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Published 1987 | public
Journal Article

Quantitative High-Resolution Gas Chromatography and High-Resolution Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analyses of Carbonaceous Fine Aerosol Particles

Abstract

Methods have been developed for the quantification of low-microgram levels of the extractable organic matter contained in the atmospheric fine aerosol fraction. Extract quantification is accomplished by computer-assisted high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) used in conjunction with a procedural recovery mixture containing perdeuterated compounds of differing polarity and molecular weight. Recovery data for these species indicate that relative volatility rather than functional group classification is the primary factor affecting overall recovery. Routine quality control analysis is performed on a per-sample basis by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HRGC/MS) for confirmation of the standard components and for identification of procedural contaminants. By the way of illustration, fine aerosol samples have been analyzed from Anaheim. California. The absolute solvent extract yields range from 49 to 346μg of organic carbon, and demonstrate a seasonal variation with winter maximum and summer minimum concentrations.

Additional Information

© 1987 Gordon and Breach, Science Publishers Inc. Received: 9 Jul 1986; in final form September 15 1986. Published online: 19 Dec 2006. We thank Ed Ruth and Gary Taghon for their valuable comments and suggestions. Thanks are also given to Karen Dykes and Celeste Correia for their assistance in the manuscript preparation. Financial support from the Atmospheric Research Section, National Science Foundation (Grants ATM 81-16622, ATM 81-18101 and ATM 85-09184) and from the California Air Resources Board under agreement A1-071-32, is gratefully acknowledged.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 17, 2023